College football picks of the week

Me and the Irish, back up off the canvass. We both took a hit two weeks ago — Notre Dame losing big to Michigan, me losing big with the weekly picks. But just as the Irish rallied to beat Michigan State and keep their BCS at-large hopes alive, I had my best week of the season, going 3-1-1 to pull within a game of .500.
Now, onto this week’s picks…
Last week: 3-1-1
Season: 9-10-3
All picks are against the spread.
Lines based on those published in the Mercury News.

STANFORD (plus-23) AT UCLA: No matter how bad Stanford might be in a given year, it usually saves its best for the Bruins. In fact, the Cardinal has covered the number in seven of the last eight meetings. And let’s face it, the Bruins just aren’t very good. GIMME: STANFORD

BOISE STATE (plus-4) AT UTAH: Sure, the Utes are at home, but Boise has the experience to handle a rowdy crowd. And it’s getting more than a field goal. And it’s better. GIMME: BOISE STATE:

TENNESSEE (minus-13) AT MEMPHIS: Tough spot for Tennessee, what with Georgia and Alabama coming up. It’s also the Vols’ first road game of the season. (Those SEC teams sure know how to schedule.) And there’s this not-insignificant factoid: Memphis has covered the last five against UT. Here comes number six. GIMME: MEMPHIS

WASHINGTON (plus-3.5) AT ARIZONA: Huge game for both teams: winner remains solidly in the bowl hunt, loser has its work cut out. Huskies aren’t very talented, but they’re starting to believe in the Willingham system — and they’ve covered four of their last five games in Arizona Stadium. GIMME: WASHINGTON

ILLINOIS (plus-26) AT MICHIGAN STATE: Yes, Illinois is terrible. But in this case we’re dealing with something much larger than the merits of a single team: the post-Irish letdown, the tendency for a team to play poorly the week after facing Notre Dame — especially when that team blows a fourth-quarter lead at home. GIMME: ILLINOIS

OREGON (minus-1.5) AT ARIZONA STATE: ASU’s inept performance against Cal means only one thing — the Sun Devils’ annual slide is underway. Oregon has plenty of motivation, given that every non-Duck in the free world believes Oregon really lost its last game (Oklahoma). GIMME: OREGON